按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
choice fell on Urbain Grandier。 When the offer of the post was
brought to him； he answered that he was already responsible for two
important charges； and that he therefore had not enough time to watch
over the snow…white flock which they wished to entrust to him； as a
good shepherd should； and he recommended the lady superior to seek
out another more worthy and less occupied than himself。
This answer； as may be supposed； wounded the self…esteem of the
sisters： they next turned their eyes towards Mignon； priest and canon
of the collegiate church of Sainte…Croix； and he； although he felt
deeply hurt that they had not thought first of him； accepted the
position eagerly； but the recollection that Grandier had been
preferred before himself kept awake in； him one of those bitter
hatreds which time； instead of soothing； intensifies。 From the
foregoing narrative the reader can see to what this hate led。
As soon as the new director was appointed； the mother superior
confided to him the kind of foes which he would be expected to
vanquish。 Instead of comforting her by the assurance that no ghosts
existing； it could not be ghosts who ran riot in the house； Mignon
saw that by pretending to lay these phantoms he could acquire the
reputation for holiness he so much desired。 So he answered that the
Holy Scriptures recognised the existence of ghosts by relating how
the witch of Endor had made the shade of Samuel appear to Saul。 He
went on to say that the ritual of the Church possessed means of
driving away all evil spirits； no matter how persistent they were；
provided that he who undertook the task were pure in thought and
deed； and that he hoped soon； by the help of God； to rid the convent
of its nocturnal visitants； whereupon as a preparation for their
expulsion he ordered a three days' fast； to be followed by a general
confession。
It does not require any great cleverness to understand how easily
Mignon arrived at the truth by questioning the young penitents as
they came before him。 The boarders who had played at being ghosts
confessed their folly； saying that they had been helped by a young
novice of sixteen years of age； named Marie Aubin。 She acknowledged
that this was true； it was she who used to get up in the middle of
the night； and open the dormitory door； which her more timid room…
mates locked most carefully from within every night； before going to
beda fact which greatly increased their terror when； despite their
precautions； the ghosts still got in。 Under pretext of not exposing
them to the anger of the superior； whose suspicions would be sure to
be awakened if the apparitions were to disappear immediately after
the general confession； Mignon directed them to renew their nightly
frolics from time to time； but at longer and longer intervals。 He
then sought an interview with the superior； and assured her that he
had found the minds of all those under her charge so chaste and pure
that he felt sure through his earnest prayers he would soon clear the
convent of the spirits which now pervaded it。
Everything happened as the director had foretold； and the reputation
for sanctity of the holy man； who by watching and praying had
delivered the worthy Ursulines from their ghostly assailants；
increased enormously in the town of Loudun。
CHAPTER III
Hardly had tranquillity been restored when Mignon； Duthibaut； Menuau；
Meunier； and Barot； having lost their cause before the Archbishop of
Bordeaux； and finding themselves threatened by Grandier with a
prosecution for libel and forgery； met together to consult as to the
best means of defending themselves before the unbending severity of
this man； who would； they felt； destroy them if they did not destroy
him。
The result of this consultation was that very shortly afterwards
queer reports began to fly about； it was whispered that the ghosts
whom the pious director had expelled had again invaded the convent；
under an invisible and impalpable form； and that several of the nuns
had given； by their words and acts； incontrovertible proofs of being
possessed。
When these reports were mentioned to Mignon； he； instead of denying
their truth； cast up his eyes to heaven and said that God was
certainly a great and merciful God； but it was also certain that
Satan was very clever； especially when he was barked by that false
human science called magic。 However； as to the reports； though they
were not entirely without foundation； he would not go so far as to
say that any of the sisters were really possessed by devils； that
being a question which time alone could decide。
The effect of such an answer on minds already prepared to listen to
the most impossible things； may easily be guessed。 Mignon let the
gossip go its rounds for several months without giving it any fresh
food； but at length； when the time was ripe； he called on the priest
of Saint…Jacques at Chinon； and told him that matters had now come to
such a pass in the Ursuline convent that he felt it impossible to
bear up alone under the responsibility of caring for the salvation of
the afflicted nuns； and he begged him to accompany him to the
convent。 This priest； whose name was Pierre Barre； was exactly the
man whom Mignon needed in such a crisis。 He was of melancholy
temperament； and dreamed dreams and saw visions； his one ambition was
to gain a reputation for asceticism and holiness。 Desiring to
surround his visit with the solemnity befitting such an important
event； he set out for Loudun at the head of all his parishioners； the
whole procession going on foot； in order to arouse interest and
curiosity； but this measure was quite needless it took less than that
to set the town agog。
While the faithful filled the churches offering up prayers for the
success of the exorcisms； Mignon and Barre entered upon their task at
the convent； where they remained shut up with the nuns for six hours。
At the end of this time Barre appeared and announced to his
parishioners that they might go back to Chinon without him； for he
had made up his mind to remain for the present at Loudun； in order to
aid the venerable director of the Ursuline convent in the holy work
he had undertaken； he enjoined on them to pray morning and evening；
with all possible fervour； that； in spite of the serious dangers by
which it was surrounded； the good cause might finally triumph。 This
advice； unaccompanied as it was by any explanation； redoubled the
curiosity of the people； and the belief gained ground that it was not
merely one or two nuns who were possessed of devils； but the whole
sisterhood。 It was not very long before the name of the magician who
had worked this wonder began to be mentioned quite openly： Satan； it
was said； had drawn Urbain Grandier into his power； through his
pride。 Urbain had entered into a pact with the Evil Spirit by which
he had sold him his soul in return for being made the most learned
man on earth。 Now； as Urbain's knowledge was much greater than that
of the inhabitants of Loudun； this story gained general credence in
the town； although here and there was to be found a man sufficiently
enlightened to shrug his shoulders